Blueberry Certification Program for Florida Growers 2018

1. US/CANADA BLUEBERRY FRUIT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR FLORIDA GROWERS An Alternative to Fumigation and Phytosanitary Certification for Blueberry Fruit shipped to Canada 2018

2. Objectives of the Program • Facilitate the movement of fresh blueberries from areas regulated for blueberry maggot to non-regulated areas • Mitigate the risk of moving blueberry maggot into non-regulated (non-infested) areas • Provide an alternative to fumigation • Provide an alternative to phytosanitary certificates

3. WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 Great news! There are no changes to the 7th Revision of Directive D-02-04 that will affect blueberry fruit shipments!

4. Canadian Provinces Regulated (infested) Provinces: • New Brunswick • Nova Scotia • Prince Edward Island These Provinces already have the Blueberry maggot, therefore certification free from the Blueberry maggot is NOT required.

5. Canadian Provinces Regulated Provinces accepting Blueberry Certification Program (BCP) Program fruit: • Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba • Ontario • Quebec • Newfoundland

6. Canadian Provinces British Columbia accepts only FUMIGATED fruit

7. Grower Responsibilities • Apply for Participation in Program • Select Calendar Spray or Integrated Pest Management Program • Obtain and Exercise Control of Movement Certification Labels for Shipments • Meet Trapping Requirements • Test Blueberry Fruit for Fruit Flies

8. Shipper Responsibilities • Ensure that all blueberries originate from approved growers • Ensure that all blueberry fruit shipments meet U.S. Grade #1 requirements • Ensure that a Movement Certification Label for Shipments is affixed to shipping documents • Make records available upon request.

9. DPI (NPPO) Responsibilities • Provide training to program participants on: • Blueberry Maggot Biology and Identification • Field monitoring • Cultural and Chemical Measures • Sampling and Testing as required • Inspect and approve BCP participants for program participation • Conduct biweekly compliance monitoring • Monitor trapping activities

10. Application Process • Step One : Grower/shipper should contact their local DPI Inspector to schedule an appointment to get signed up each year they participate. • Step Two: Grower/shipper needs to complete the Application to Participate in Blueberry Certification Program FDACS 08202.pdf and submit application to their local DPI inspector

11. Application Process • Step Three: Grower/Shippers need to review the USDA Compliance Agreement The local DPI inspector will discuss the conditions of the compliance agreement with the grower/shipper. If the local DPI inspector agrees that the producer can meet the requirements, the document is completed, signed, and forwarded to the DPI Certification office in Gainesville.

12. Obtaining Movement Certification Labels • Step One: Once approved, grower/shippers need to complete and submit to the local DPI inspector, a Request for Authorization to Print Certificates (Tags) - DACS 08086.pdf in order to obtain the required shipping labels(Movement Certification Labels (MCL’s). • Step Two: The DACS 08086.pdf is verified by the local DPI inspector and submitted to the DPI Certification Specialist Office.

13. Obtaining Movement Certification Labels Step Three: Once the request is received, the DPI Certification Office will authorize the printer of the growers choice to print Movement Certification Labels. DPI Certification Office will provide printer with the appropriate artwork. The applicant pays the printer. Step Four: The pre-numbered labels will be delivered to the local DPI inspector for distribution to the program participant.

14. Labeling requirements • SHIPPER RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensure that a Movement Certification Label is affixed to the shipping document provided by each grower. • Keep the grower’s invoice on file for a minimum of one year • Apply assigned labels to the bill of lading accompanying the shipment to Canada. • Ensure harvest date is on each shipping document • DPI (NPPO) RESPONSIBILITIES • Authorize printer of grower’s choice to print movement certification labels, assign grower and label numbers • Distribute pre-numbered labels and collect or account for all stickers used at the end of the shipping season GROWER RESPONSIBILITIES: • Producers must exercise strict control over the use of Movement Certification Labels. • Records must be kept of serial numbers of labels in stock and of labels used for shipments. • Labels not yet affixed to an invoice should not be given to anyone other than a person authorized by and employed by the approved grower.

15. Integrated Pest Management Program Information • Trapping Guidelines • Blueberry Maggot Fly Identification • Fruit Testing • Responses to finding blueberry maggot flies or larvae • Documentation

16. Trapping Requirements GROWER RESPONSBILITIES: Growers are required to conduct trapping activities in their production areas to monitor for the presence on Blueberry Maggot Flies (Rhagoletis mendex).

17. Trapping Requirements GROWER RESPONSBILITIES: Step One: Pherocon AM traps baited with ammonium acetate should be purchased and placed into the production area at least two weeks prior to harvest by the grower. The number of traps to be placed in the production areas is determined by the trapping density table. Traps may be purchased from any supplier. Great Lakes IPM, Inc. www.greatlakesipm.com

18. Trapping Requirements GROWER RESPONSBILITIES: Step Two: Traps must be monitored at least twice a week by the grower. Step Three: Growers must complete the Blueberry Bi-Weekly Trapping Summary FDACS 08421.pdf (See next page.) Step Four: Growers are required to maintain trapping records and collected traps for inspection by their DPI Inspector.

19. Trapping Documentation Blueberry Certification Program Blueberry Bi-Weekly Trapping Summary FDACS 08421.pdf • Trapping and test data should be recorded after each activity. • Records should be maintained for review by DPI inspector.

20. DPI RESPONSIBILITIES: Bi-weekly compliance monitoring of the growers’: • Review trapping records • Collection of used traps • Testing of blueberry fruit for larvae • (Inspectors should use the Blueberry Auditing Checklist FDACS 08203.doc • Sampling and testing as required by the Canadian Directive D-02-04 7th Revision (effective 10-24-2017) • DPI will perform first sample test.

21. DPI RESPONSIBILITIES: Blueberry Certification Program Auditing Inspection Checklist (DACS-08203) • Used for monitoring Canadian Blueberry program participants activities. • Should be completed at each inspection • Maintain records in the DPI inspector office.

22. Trap Placement - Highbush • For highbush blueberry or other large plants the traps must be suspended at mid-canopy of the plant. • The traps must be made visible by removing twigs and foliage in the vicinity of the trap. • The traps must be placed in a "V" shape (approximately 45 degree angle) with the apex and yellow sticky surface facing the ground.

23. Trap Placement - Lowbush • For lowbush/wild blueberry or other small plants, the traps must be suspended approximately 4 - 6 inches above the plants. • At least some traps must be placed near the perimeter of the fields, preferably in weedy sites or sites sheltered from the prevailing winds.

24. Trapping Density Table

25. Guidelines for Organic Production Areas • Organic Production Areas will be reviewed on a case by case basis • Trapping densities are the same as non-organic production areas • Trapping arrays will vary

26. Blueberry Maggot Fly Identification • Wings with bold, black bands • Body is black with tiny white spot on thorax, and white stripe on side

27. Blueberry maggot fly on sticky trap

28. FALSE POSITIVES? • The blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoletis mendax, and the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella, are not distinguishable. • Both species occur in Florida.

29. Trash Flies • ‘Trash’ flies are very attracted to yellow sticky panels. • Note clear wings, without the bold black bands typical of Blueberry Maggot Fly. • All used traps should be maintained for collection by the DPI inspector.

30. Testing Fruit for Blueberry Maggots • Sampling Rates • Test Procedures

31. Sampling Rate for Fruit Testing

32. Testing Fruit for Blueberry Maggots Fruit Testing • Each managed production area must be sampled at least once per week. • Each sample consists of a minimum of one 1-liter sample. If area is greater than 49 acres (20 hectares), one additional liter sampling must be taken • Samples must be collected prior to grading and tested within 24 hours of being picked. • Producers are required to use either a brown sugar, salt floatation or hot water testing method

33. Testing Fruit for Blueberry Maggots Brown sugar / salt flotation tests • Prepare a concentrated sugar or salt solution: • Mix Sugar/Water concentration = 3.5 kg brown sugar per 20 liters of water (approx 1.5 lb brown sugar to 1 gallon of water) • Dissolve 1 liter salt per 16 liters of water (approx. 5 pounds salt per 4 gallons of water) • Place sampled blueberries into a container. Large samples subdivided into smaller subsamples and tested individually. • Gently crush berries with a potato masher. • Add enough sugar or salt solution to completely cover crushed blueberries. Solution should be approximately 1 inch above crushed berries. Continued…….

34. Testing Fruit for Blueberry Maggots Brown sugar / salt flotation tests, Continued • Gently agitate crushed berries in the solution. • Allow mixture to stand 10-15 minutes allowing foam to dissipate. • Allow maggots to float to the surface. • Examine the surface of the solution for insect larvae. • Gently transfer any insect larva to a labeled vial. • Submit specimens to authorized expert.

35. Floating maggots in ‘brown sugar test’ solution Look carefully for small (1/4”) whitish maggots floating on surface

36. Testing Fruit for Blueberry Maggots Water test • Place 2 pints of blueberries in a pot. • Nearly cover the blueberries with water. • Bring berries and water to a frothy boil and boil for at least 1 minute. • Empty berries into a 4 mesh per inch screen. • Gently crush berries in screen with the back of a spoon. (see next slide) • Rinse berries with cold running water and collect water and solids in a with a dark bottom. • Allow the debris to settle and decant floating solids and most of the water. • Repeat rinsing and decanting until water is clear. • White maggots will be visible against the dark bottom of the pan.

37. Crushing blueberries using the ‘water test’ • Gently crush all berries to release any maggots that may be present • Rinse crushed berries into a dark bottom container.

38. The grower has found a suspect fly or maggot, what do they do? • If you have a suspect adult fly, do not remove the fly from the trap, install a new trap and safeguard the one with the fly. Contact your local DPI inspector. • If you have found a maggot during the water or brown sugar test, place the maggot in a vial of alcohol. Contact your local DPI inspector for identification and further instructions.

39. The grower has found a suspect fly • When an adult blueberry maggot fly is found in a trap within a Monitored Production Area or in abandoned or wild areas in the vicinity of a Monitored Production Area, the plants must be sprayed within five days. • A second spraying must be carried out seven to ten days after the application of the first spray. Subsequent sprays must be applied within five days if another blueberry maggot fly is trapped or until shipping ceases. • Insecticides approved for use on blueberries against blueberry maggot must be used at the rates, dosages and intervals specified on the pesticide label and according IFAS recommendations.

40. The grower has found a suspect maggot • Contact your DPI representative immediately. • DPI will send the sample in for confirmation • If one maggot found in any sample in the Monitored Production Area is confirmed to be a Blueberry Maggot fly, the grower may not ship to non-regulated areas of Canada for the remainder of the season.

41. Where do I send forms? The following forms must be sent to the Gainesville DPI Office: • Application For Approval To Participate In The Blueberry Certification Program • Request For Authorization To Print Certificates (Tags) Of Inspection • USDA Blueberry Compliance Agreement Contact Information: Division of Plant IndustryBureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection P.O. Box 147100Gainesville, FL 32614-7100Fax: 352-395-4618 E-mail: terri.hymes@freshfromflorida.com or 352-395-4718 NOTE: The above forms may also be submitted to the inspector who will forward them to the Gainesville office. The Bi-Weekly Trapping Summary is submitted to your local DPI inspector along with used traps. Other Documents: Auditing Inspection Checklist (used by the DPI Inspector)

42. Associated Fees: Each visit after sign up is considered a special inspection and requires a fee of $50.00 plus mileage

43. Questions? Contact local inspector Or Export Certification Specialist Christine Zamora (352) 395-4719